The speedway season is only a couple of weeks away and Island fans will be able to catch an early sight of the 2019 Wightlink Warriors and Wightlink Wizards teams when the riders gather at the Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde on Thursday 4th April for their Press and Practice Day.
This is an open event with free admission and a busy day starts at 10.00 when local media will have exclusive time and access to the Wightlink Warriors and Wightlink Wizards squads for photographs and interviews. Warriors co-promoters Barry Bishop and Martin Widman will also be available as will team manager Jackie Vatcher and members of the rider’s support teams. On completion of the media session, supporters will be welcome to meet the riders and officials and take photos.
On track practice is expected to start around 11.00 with the Warriors on first, followed by the Wizards. On track action is expected to end around 15.00. The Retreat snack bar will be open for refreshments. Around 16.30 both squads will attend briefing sessions being given by the promoters and team managers before heading off for a private meal at a local venue. The day will be rounded off with a pre-season ‘Meet The Team’ social event in The Premier Lounge at Smallbrook Stadium starting at 19.00 hosted by Rob Dyer. Everyone is welcome to attend. There will be no admission charge and tickets will not be required.
Co-promoter Barry Bishop said: “Well here we are on the eve of our fourth season in charge and I’m as excited now as I was when we launched this venture in 2016. Whilst I would have like to have held Press & Practice at the weekend, stadium availability has gone against us this time and we have opted to use a Thursday in daylight for maximum media exposure. I know that some fans will not be able to make the on track action due to work or school commitments, however we are having an evening social so people can meet both teams and have a chat with them and by way of compensation for missing the on track action, the evening event will be free and there will be some food too”.
Warriors first official fixture will be an individual event on Thursday 11th April (19.00 start) with the fourth staging of the Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy. All seven Warriors will be in action alongside five carefully selected visitors who have a proven record at the Smallbrook track.